Game device



March 9, 1943. w. A. HEACOCK ETAL 2,313,473

GAME DEVICE 7 Filed Aug. 23, 1941 2 SheetsSheet 1 FIG. 2.

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I/FIZOR/VZY March 9, 1943. w. A. HEACOCK ET AL GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 haunted Mar. 9, 1943 GAME DEVICE Woodrow Arthur Heacock, Inglewood, Herbert B. Swift, Redondo 'Beach, and William Spyker,

Inglewood, Calif.

Application August 23, 1941, Serial No. 408,022

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a game device for playing a game similar to the well-known game of tick-tack-toe, but ofiering a greater variety 01' plays.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a game device for a game offering an interesting new field of mental exercise.

A particular object is to provide a three-dimensional game device in which markers are placed by the respective contestants in selected positions bearing certain relations to one another having different scoring values. In accordance with one feature of the invention, parts of the game device may be shiftable with respect to other parts, in order to move a group of markers as a unit, thereby establishing new relations of markers already positioned.

Still another object is to provide a three-dimensional game device of the kind described which can be folded into a convenient compass for storage.

The invention will be described by reference to several illustrative forms shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of same device, in accordance with our invention, set up ready for play;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same game device in folded condition;

Figz. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a series of markers which can be used for playing the game;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the game device made of wire;

Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views of two difierent shapes of the individual shelves of a game device in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another modification in which the supporting means are arranged vertically;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of still another form of the invention with rotatable shelves; and

Fig. 11 is a vertical section on the line ll-ii of Fig. 10.

Referring first to the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, a set of three shelves l, 2 and 3 is connected together by supporting bars 4 and 5. The bars are pivotally attached to the shelves by screws 6, with interposed washers 1. The screws are tightened sufliciently to hold the shelves in any position to which they are moved. The axes of the pivotal connections of the bar 4 with the shelves are out of alignment with the pivotal connections or the bar 5 with the shelves. This has the eflect of holding the shelves in the erected position shown in Fig. 1.

Each of the shelves l, 2 and 3 is provided with a plurality of holding means defining playing positions to receive markers. In the present case, the holding means are simply holes 8, preferably with bevelled edges 9, of suitable size to receive balls M which serve as markers. The holes 8 can be variously arranged, Figs. 1 and 2 showing one of the possible arrangements. In accordance with the familiar two-dimensional game of ticktack-toe, each of the shelves in this instance has nine holes in a rectangular layout, forming lines of three holes in rectangular and diagonal relation. The mutual arrangement or the holding means of all three shelves forms interplanar lines composed of three holding means each in a difierent plane. Every hole of the game board forms an element oi! at least one such interplaner line, in addition to forming an element of at least two lines in the same plane. As a matter of fact, in the embodiment oi the invention shown in Fig. 1, every hole of the game board forms an element of at least two interplanar lines and at least two lines in the same plane. The central hole ll of the shelf 2 is an element of thirteen lines, four inthe same plane and nine interplaner lines. The number of lines of which each of the other holes of the game board forms an element varies from four to seven in this case.

Any number of contestants from two to five makes an interesting game. Each contestant is provided with a set of markers, in this case balls, all of the markers 01' one contestant being distinguished from the others, for instance by color or shape. Fig. 4 shows five balls of different colors, beginning with a white ball l2 at the left and including a black ball 83, a red ball M, a blue ball 15, and a green ball i6. When only two contestants are playing, each will have two colors to be played alternately. If more than two contestants are playing, each will have only one color. There are enough balls of each color to provide a ball for each hole of the game board when any number of contestants are playing.

The number of holes and balls may, of course, be varied, the above description being given merely by way of example. The only. essential is that the holes be arranged so that each will form anelement of at least two lines in the same plane and at least one interplanar line.

With the board and markers described above,

the game may be placed according to the following rules:

For three or more contestants, each takes a supply of balls of his chosen color, and after the order of play has been settled, the first player places a ball in any hole of the game board which he selects, for instance hole II in the shelf 2. The next player places a ball in another selected hole, and the third player places one in a third selected hole. The play proceeds until all of the holes of the game board have been filled with balls. Each time a player, by placing a ball in a certain hole, completes a line of three balls of his color in any direction, he claims a score of five. For instance, three white balls, l1, l8, l9, would count five. If the ball completes a line of three different colors, he claims a score of one. For instance, a red ball 2|, a white ball l8, and a blue ball 2i would count one. Any line having two balls of the same color and a third ball of a different color has no scoring value. The player must call his points as he places his ball, or lose the score for them. Since the placing of a single ball may complete several different lines, close attention is needed to avoid overlooking points. The score is totalled when the board has been filled and the next game begins with a change of turn, to equalize the opportunities.

If two contestants are playing, each selects two colors and plays them alternately, one ball at each turn. The same scoring rules are followed.

Fig. shows another type of construction exhibiting the same arrangement of holding means or receptacles as Fig. 1. In this case, a base plate 30, having a rectangular arrangement of holes 3|, has mounted upon it a wire support comprising vertical legs 32, side bars 33, and crossbars 34. Interposed in the side bars and crossbars are loops 35 forming receptacles or holding means for markers, which may be balls as in the first embodiment.

Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate the variety of shapes of shelves and arrangements of holding means that may be employed. In Fig. 6, a shelf 40 of triangular shape is shown with holes 4| parallel to its edges and a single hole: 42 at the intersection of the bisectors of the angles of the triangle. Each corner hole forms an element of three lines of holes, while each of the three holes at the middle of the sides of the triangle forms an element of two lines of holes. Three such triangles would be mounted in superposed relation similar to the shelves of Fig. l, and each hole would form an element of two or more interplanar lines of holes.

In Fig. 7, a single shelf 50 of star shape is shown, with holes Si in star-shaped arrangement. Each hole forms an element of several possible lines. For instance, the hole 5| may be an element of the line 5|, 52, 53, a line ii, 54, I5, and a line II, 58, 51. Similar lines pass through each of the holes of the intermediate circle including the hole 58. With three starshaped shelves superposed, there will be interplanar lines of holes running vertically, diagonally through the figure, and spirally around 'the circumference of the figure.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another means for supporting a rectangular arrangement of receptacles or holding means. Upon a base plate OI are mounted three vertical boards BI, 62 and 83. Each board has stamped out of it ears 04 forming pockets to receive ball markers 65, as

shown in Fig. 9. The ear-shaped receptacles of each board have the same rectangular arrangement as the holes of each shelf in Fig. 1. Considered in another way, the three receptacles in each of the top rows of the three boards combine to form a rectangular group of nine receptacles in a horizontal plane. The same cubic arrangement is therefore provided by this embodiment of the invention as in the case of Figs. 1 and 5.

The modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11 demonstrates another feature of the invention, namely, the group movability of the holding means. A base plate 10 has fixed to it two supporting rods 1| upon which at equal intervals are fixedly mounted two plates 12 and I3. Rotatably supported upon the plates 12 and I3, respectively, are rims H and I5. The plate 12 and rim H constitute an intermediate shelf, and the plate 13 and rim I5 constitute a top shelf. The base plate 10 and the two shelves have holes 18 in circular arrangement, each with a central hole 11". There are diametrical and circumferential lines of holes of each shelf, and there are vertical, diagonal and spiral interplanar lines of holes.

The play with this game board proceeds in the same manner as with those previously described, but with the additional possibility of scoring by rotating the rims H or 15. After some balls have been placed on each of the shelves, a partial turn of one of the rims 14 or 15 may establish new interplanar lines of markers which can be scored in the same way as lines formed by placing a new marker.

We have described several embodiments of the invention to illustrate some of the possible variations, but it is evident that many more forms can be devised, exhibiting the characteristics of the invention as defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a game device, a support comprising holding means defining playing positions to receive markers, the holding means being arranged in at least three parallel planes, and in each plane being arranged along a plurality of lines in such a way that each holding means forms an element of at least two of the lines of holding means in the same plane, the mutual arrangement of the holding means being the same in each of said planes and designed to form interplanar lines composed of at least three holding means each in a different plane, every holding means of the same device forming an element of at least one such interplanar line.

2. A game device as described in claim 1. wherein a coplanar group of said holding means is mounted so as to be rotatable as a unit about a central axis of the game device.

3. A game device comprising at least three shelves foldingly Joined together by parallel side bars so that they can be moved from a position with all shelves in one plane to a position in which the shelves are superposed in parallel spaced relation, each of said shelves having holding means defining playing positions to receive markers arranged in lines of at least three playing positions to a line, the playing positions of side bars pivotally connected to opposite sides of said shelves so that the device can be adjusted from a position with all shelves in one plane to a position in which the shelves are superposed in parallel spaced relation, the axes of the pivotal connections of one side bar being out of alignment with the axes of the pivotal connections of the other side bar, each of said shelves having holding means defining playing positions to receive markers arranged in lines of at least three playing positions to a line, the playing positions of all the shelves, when the latter are in superposed position, being mutually disposed so that each playing position forms an element of at least one line in the third dimension, composed of one playing position in each shelf.

5. A game device comprising a base plate and a wire superstructure, the base plate having holding means defining playing positions to receive markers, the holding means being arranged in a plurality of lines each composed of at least three holding means, said superstructure comprising holding means for markers arranged in at least two planes parallel to said base plate,- each plane of said superstructure having a number of holding means corresponding to the number of holding means in said base plate arranged similarly to said base plate holding means, the holding means of said shelves and base plate being mutually disposed so that each holding means forms an element of at least one line in the third dimension, composed of one holding means in each shelf and said base plate.

' 6. A game device comprising a base plate and at least two shelves, means for supporting one of said shelves in spaced relation above said base plate and the other of said shelves in spaced relation above said first shelf, said last means being constructed to permit at least a portion of each of said shelves to be rotated about a vertical axis, said shelves and said base plate having holding means defining playing positions to receive markers, the holding means of each of said shelves and said base plate being arranged in lines of at least three holding means to a line and having a mutual arrangement such as to form lines of holding means in the third dimension composed of one holding means in each shelf and said base plate.

7. A game device comprising three shelves, means for supporting the shelves one above the other and substantially in parallel relation to one another, each of said shelves having a central means for holding a marker and a plurality of similar holding means surrounding said central means, the mutual arrangement of said holding means in all three shelves forming interplanar lines composed of three holding means each in a. different shelf, every holding means of the game device forming an element of at least two such interplanar lines.

W. ARTHUR HEACOCK. HERBERT B. SWIFT. WILLIAM SPYKER. 

